Jimmy Kimmel On Primetime Emmy Awards: TCA

Jimmy Kimmel, flanked by Primetime Emmy exec producer Don Mischer and TV Academy chairman and CEO Bruce Rosenblum, says he has the modest goal as this year’s awards show host of simply not disappearing from the telecast for lengthy periods of time. “I’d like to be part of the show throughout”, he said this afternoon during a TCA panel on the September show. “It would be nice to be able to comment on things as they’re happening. Hopefully I’ll be able to insert myself in the entirety of the broadcast”. That was as close as anyone came to divulging specifics, other than expressing that it would be much easier to put on an entertaining telecast if they didn’t have to hand out a whopping 26 awards. “We want to keep the show really fast-paced and really funny”, Mischer expressed. Kimmel joked that the most economical way to meet that objective would be to “load all of the awards into a t-shirt cannon and fire them into the audience”. But Kimmel expressed that he isn’t feeling any nerves in anticipation of his first Emmy hosting gig — certainly not as many as he felt prior to his April gig fronting the White House Correspondents Dinner in Washington, D.C, in April. “I think I’m more comfortable in front of an audience of shallow Hollywood stars”, he concluded.

There were also questions during the session about why shows like FX’s American Horror Story that are perceived by many as drama series would be permitted to compete in the miniseries category, which Horror Story was nominated in this year. “It’s a category that we watch carefully,” maintained Rosenblum. “In the case of American Horror Story, the Board of Governors clearly felt the show belonged in the movie/miniseries category”. That supplied Kimmel an opening. “Let’s face it, it’s not a miniseries”, he joked. “Let’s talk about the Modern Family negotiations. They want to be paid to attend the Emmys. Pretty shocking stuff”. Later, he added, “Heck, I’m going to try to qualify as a miniseries next year. I mean, it seems like a soft category”. Kimmel also dismissed questions about whether Matt Damon or Oprah Winfrey would be part of the Emmycast. Of Damon, he said he has “no plans to incorporate him into any aspect of my life”. But he and Oprah are evidently in close touch. “It’s a constant dialogue”, he said, seemingly in jest. “She calls me her new Gayle”.

5 Comments

Lisp • on Jul 27, 2012 6:17 pm

Ah, “keep the show reall funny.” One problem. Kimmel ain’t funny. He is proof if you hang around long enough people begin to believe you are good. Kimmel started out with no tie. Trying to be himself. Had the lowest ratings in tv history. Was ranked 83 out of 100 shows. So he followed like a lemming. Put the tie on and listened to his bosses. He is a sycophant. Sorry it is the truth. So now he’s part of the mediocre elite. Or as Carl Lewis said, average is now good enough. What the hell happened to America. We became the Kardashian of countries. We have President Kardashian, oh I know hope and and prayer will solve everything. Go grab another tissue listening to that speech. Kimmel sucks.

Thank you.

Bob • on Jul 27, 2012 8:28 pm

Dang, his disappearing from the telecast for lengthy periods of time was the only reason I was going to be able to watch it with him hosting.

Pvt. Duke • on Jul 27, 2012 10:15 pm

Sometimes when people are elite at one thing, they get deluded into thinking they’re elite at everything. See: Carl “fuck yeah I can sing the anthem” Lewis. If he wasn’t an elite runner they’d have tasered him for trying to sing the Stars and Stripes, so “being average” manifests itself in more ways than even Carl Lewis is able to consider.

Kimmel is basically the same guy he’s always been. Sure he’s more seasoned now, more political (too much of a celebrity apologist IMO), he’s in shape now, and he doesn’t look like he brushes his hair with his fingers, but that first show (Clooney brings vodka, Snoop Dogg in the house, drunk girl in audience pukes, Warren Sapp flies in directly from Superbowl in helicopter) really set the tone. He does seem like more of a rube than the classic talk show hosts, but his viral bits are the best in late night.

His cousin Sal might be the most unlikeable and unnecessary presence on TV, but the late Uncle Frank probably best personified the show: good heart under the goofiness, never taking itself too seriously. I hardly think Jimmy Kimmel is a testament to the decline of western civilization.

Dear Pvt. Duke • on Jul 28, 2012 8:19 am

Kimmel is the cause he the prime example of nothingness. Seriously. I have nothing against him. He’s just the most average nothing. Not even the fifth funniest fella on the dorm room floor. Terrible interviewer. A dude. Welcome to the Whitehouse.

Anonymous • on Jul 28, 2012 10:31 am

I detect some problems in the future of Emmys. Who said “too many awards to give out.” I’m sure it was Misher. It’s the Emmys. It’s point and purpose is to give out awards. He should go direct an evening with the Friars Club.